Canadiens 5, Canucks 2: Lacklustre performances becoming too common - The Province

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But as has been the case too often through the first week and a half of the season — an astoundingly short period that also feels like it’s taken forever — they couldn’t put enough together and then surrendered two goals in the third to the Habs, settling the game for the visitors.

“Frustrating, for sure,” Pettersson said about losing the way they did, as both goals came off turnovers by the Canucks.

“We’ve got a lot of things to work on. I need to be better, play better defence.”

Head coach Travis Green tried to put a positive spin on his team, saying he liked the effort over the first 50 minutes.

“Sometimes when you’re not on top of your game, you’re looking for a better game. I thought we got a better game out of our group,” he said. “By good game, I don’t mean we were out and creating all kinds of chances, but I think we stuck with it.”

The Canadiens’ goals were scored by Nick Suzuki, Corey Perry, Brendan Gallagher, Jonathan Drouin and Joel Edmundson into an empty net, while Pettersson and Höglander scored for the Canucks.

It was also the 350th career win for Habs goalie Carey Price.

Here’s what we learned …

Vancouver Canucks’ Elias Pettersson battles for the puck with Montreal Canadiens’ Paul Byron as the Canucks host the Canadiens on Saturday at Rogers Arena. Photo by Jason Payne /PNG

You know he needed that

Pettersson has had a rough start to the season. He mostly hasn’t looked himself. There have been moments of confidence — like his between-the-legs effort on a breakaway on Wednesday that didn’t lead to a goal — but mostly he’s looked to be squeezing his stick too hard.

Finally, Saturday, he got a bounce, making a perfect tip of a point shot by Jordie Benn, deflecting the puck down toward the ice and past Price into the Montreal net.

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2021-01-24 04:07:30Z
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